despairing 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsper-iŋ How to pronounce despairing (audio)
Definition of despairingnext
1
as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst despairing predictions regarding the effects of global overpopulation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in desperate
feeling or showing no hope despairing applicants need to be reminded that most students are eventually accepted somewhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

despairing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of despair
as in grieving
to lose all hope or confidence we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective despairing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of despairing are desperate, despondent, and hopeless. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

When is it sensible to use desperate instead of despairing?

While the synonyms desperate and despairing are close in meaning, desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.

one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

When might despondent be a better fit than despairing?

While in some cases nearly identical to despairing, despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

Where would hopeless be a reasonable alternative to despairing?

The synonyms hopeless and despairing are sometimes interchangeable, but hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of despairing
Adjective
American commentators have painted a bleak portrait of a nation collapsing into ever more distant and despairing silos. —Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2025 On April 3, 1968, the day before he was assassinated, Dr. King delivered a sermon in Memphis that offered a blunt assessment of a broken and despairing world. —Clyde McGrady, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
These are the people who, despairing of finding their way out honestly, simply smash and bash their way through the corn willy-nilly. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2024 Meme-makers across America are despairing right now. —Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for despairing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despairing
  1. hopeless
  2. desperate
  3. grieving
  4. cynical
  5. unhappy
  6. suffering
  7. sad
  8. mourning
Adjective
  • Democracy in the United States faces a serious threat, but the case is not hopeless.
    — Laura Gamboa, Foreign Affairs, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Despite running on dirt-minded tires that are hopeless on snow and ice, these ultra-luxe restomods had no problem roaring through the powder covering the ground.
    — Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of hopeless
Adjective
  • With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Early in the fourth quarter, the desperate Gamecocks ramping up the pressure, Bueckers came curling off a dribble handoff from Sarah Strong.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of desperate
Verb
  • Ward, 28, missed four games while grieving her death.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
  • The Christmas Eve shooting also devastated the still-grieving Oxford community, where a teenage gunman went on a rampage at Oxford High School in November 2021, killing four classmates and seven others, including a teacher.
    — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 29 Dec. 2024
Definition of grieving
Adjective
  • Val did something special with a typical 1980s cynical rebel/wisecracker role, giving his character a layer of big brother warmth.
    — KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
  • On the movie front, Viola Davis is an endangered POTUS in G20, Tom Hardy plays a cynical detective in Havoc, and documentary subjects include the Stranger Things stage production, the Milwaukee Brewers’ 1982 season and the Disney cult classic A Goofy Movie.
    — Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • Despite his close relationship with Trump, Elon Musk is unhappy about tariffs, which stand to hurt the business empire of the world’s richest man.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • There have even been reports of police being called to deal with the rowdy behavior, not to mention some theater employees who are unhappy about the cleanup required.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of unhappy
Verb
  • The Red Devils are still suffering from the same old problems.
    — Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Anyway, Asma is now suffering terribly, according to reports.
    — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of suffering
Adjective
  • Kwong grew up hearing stories of every kind about Manzanar—scary, sad, funny and infuriating.
    — Rachel Ng, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Yet, whatever the deal means for Paul, Weiss, its acquiescence to Trump marks a sad day for the legal profession—or what once was a profession, and is now just another business.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of sad
Verb
  • Many people responded not by mourning Thompson, but by blaming UnitedHealthcare and other insurers for failing to pay for essential medical treatments.
    — Jay Feinman, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Despite Edward’s mother still in mourning after the death of her husband Prince Albert, the young couple ushered in contemporary art, opulent balls and society events, which King George V and Queen Mary took charge of successfully.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of mourning

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Cite this Entry

“Despairing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despairing. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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